Why is "Previous Version" irreversible?????

Alan E. Brown

I was using the new Gallery and learning several things about it. But then I saw something that seemed to be missing, so I decided to take a quick look at the previous version to see if I was right.

Now I see in "How to use the Gallery" that once you select the "Previous Version" option, "you will not have access to the new Gallery until the new Gallery has been released to all users."

Who thought that that was a reasonable way for "Previous Version" to work? There is no warning that "Previous Version" would be a permanent decision. That's an exceedingly poor user experience.

Is that really true? Is there no clearing of cookies or cache or anything else that can restore my access to the new Gallery?

Note that the setting that tries to stick me with the previous version doesn't work very well; when I do various things, I see the new version. But then when I do much at all, I am forced back to the previous version. It's quite a mess.

How to use the Gallery

AmberML1

Mar 15, 2025

FamilySearch has updated the Memories Gallery.

The updated Memories Gallery (accessed from Memories in the top header) takes advantage of the latest FamilySearch.org site technology. Here's a look at what's new:

https://us.v-cdn.net/6032564/uploads/13BOVVR2V8FX/gallery-1.png

https://us.v-cdn.net/6032564/uploads/8AFW1GHCOU0E/gallery-2.png

https://us.v-cdn.net/6032564/uploads/GH5O2Y04K85G/gallery-3.png

https://us.v-cdn.net/6032564/uploads/AX7ARO1QHLU2/gallery-4.png

https://us.v-cdn.net/6032564/uploads/8CQPQTXUUR38/gallery-5.png

https://us.v-cdn.net/6032564/uploads/IVSH0WKCPIGY/gallery-6.png

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Alan E. Brown

UPDATE: I did discover that clearing my cookies did give me access to the new Gallery again. But nothing in the documentation or web pages let me know that was an option. Please don't scare me like that!

AmberML1

@Alan E. Brown

Actually, it is intended that once a user clicks the "Previous Version," they are not supposed to have access to the new version. That was a decision made by the Engineers.

However, once the new Gallery has been released to all users, then the "Previous Version" / old Gallery will go away.

Glad this worked for you.

Yes, they are still trying to work out a few kinks as they role this out to limited users before all users. I'll make a note of this.

Thanks for sharing.

Alan E. Brown

Oh, I understand that this is the intended behavior. I quoted the Community post where that is made clear.

My problem is that it is not made clear to people who innocently click the Previous Version button. There's practically no chance that they will see the Community post, so they will have no idea that they are making a choice that is difficult to reverse (and the way to reverse it is obscure and undocumented).

Sarah Elizabeth Seifert

This was a very poor decision by the developers.

I've found a (probably temporary) workaround for toggling back and forth between the new and old versions. If you have clicked on "Previous Version" and want to go back to the new version (even though it's awful), you can just click at the top right of the page on the "Overview" link. Let the Overview page load, then go back to the Gallery page and you will find yourself back on the new version.

I recognize that this is a bug, but I hope they don't fix it without offering an actual way to toggle back and forth. They should never provide an option to leave one version without the option to go back.

AmberML1

Yes, @Sarah Elizabeth Seifert , I've found that method also works.

Again, sorry for the confusion. (I don't think the engineers were trying to create complications. I'm just grateful for the product they are providing.)